Julia's Rants

Saturday Roundup - 11/21/09

2009-11-21T12:39:34Z

Time for my weekly roundup of stories you might have missed, follow up stories and a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

1. bostonherald.com

This past Monday, at his request, the Red Sox released George Kottaras and he was picked up by the Brewers. Kottaras never really got the chance to develop into the catcher that he might be while he was here in Boston. His role was mostly as Tim Wakefield's catcher and with the arrival of Victor Martinez, that role was future diminished. I wish him much success with the Brewers.

2. http://cdn0.sbnation.com

In a minor move, the Red Sox added 26 year old, right handed relief pitcher Robert Manuel to their 40 man roster. He was acquired off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. Last season he made his pitching debut with the Reds on July 9th and he had 3 scoreless appearances over 4 1/2 innings before he was traded to the Mariners. He spent the rest of the season with the Mariners' Triple-A team. It will be interesting to see how he fits in with the team.

3. projo.com

If the reports from the Providence Journal are correct, then Ron Johnson - the manager of the Red Sox Triple -A will be promoted to the majors with the Red Sox to fill the spot vacated by Brad Mills when he was hired by the Astros as their manager. It is not expected that he will be the bench coach as Mills was, but that he will most likely be either the first base or third base coach. I like that the Red Sox are looking from within to fill this vacancy and getting their coaching staff in order. I wonder if Scott is happy with what the Yankee are doing with their coaches? ;-)

4. It was a split night on Friday for the other Boston teams. The Boston Bruins beat the beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in OT. It was a good win for the B's, but the number of OT and shootout games they have had recently has been concerning. They need to focus and come out with more aggressively. The Boston Celtics on the other hand....ugh...(Scott you can skip right over this section!) It is nothing short of a miracle that they lost the game by ONLY a score of 83-78 to the Orlando Magic. While they did attempt to make a run of it, it is very clear that the C's have some very serious work to do if they are going to be in contention this season. They need to regroup and do it NOW!

5. http://www.glogster.com

You all know that the Yankees are NOT my favorite baseball team. (Shocking I know..) When it comes to football there is a team that I dislike as much as the Yankees - the New York Jets. I really, REALLY do not like the NY Jets...and guess who my Patriots are playing this Sunday? In Foxboro? At home. Yup.....GO PATRIOTS - BEAT THE JETS!!!

The Bewitching Hour

2009-11-20T01:13:23Z

http://www.ombwatch.org

At the stroke of midnight November 20, 2009 the fun begins! Free agency commences. Who will go where - who will talk to whom? It is being reported that one of the top players on the Red Sox radar screen - Jason Bay - has rejected the Red Sox's initial offer and that he too will be free to talk to whomever he wishes. Oh joy. But this really is the part of the off-season we have all been waiting for...

http://www.scandiastoves.com

The Hot Stove Season!

It has been a dull few weeks as we waited for something big to happen. And now? We will be wondering - what players will both the Red Sox and the Yankees be fighting over? (Memo to Scott JBay will not be wearing pinstripes next season!) Will the Red Sox acquire a new starting pitcher? What about a shortstop? So many questions...so much "hurry and wait"...so many answers we have to wait for. And seriously - I wouldn't miss it for the world! Let the games begin! I can't wait - how about you?

Is it good for baseball?

2009-11-18T19:07:20Z

http://www.wickedlocal.com

There was a time when boys and girls grew up cheering for the baseball teams of their fathers..their mothers. When everyone in the community rallied around the local team. Win, lose or draw they were the team you rooted for; the team you laid your hopes on each year. There was no need for players names on the back of the shirts - everyone knew who the local boys were. Players stayed with the same team year after year. Yes, baseball was a business but it wasn't a big business yet. When your team traveled there were few of their own fans at the other ballparks. Home field advantage really meant something in those days.

In the mid 70s "free agency" was introduced to baseball and the way people thought of the game began to change. Players started following the money around and the differences between the have and have-not teams got bigger. With rare exception, the teams that could (or would) spend the most money were the winners. And with the introduction of the internet and 24 hour news/sports channels anyone anywhere could have almost instant access to teams from around the country. You could follow a team on the west coast even if you lived on the east coast. You could see who were the teams that were winning and decide "Hey, my team isn't winning so much, maybe I'd rather cheer for someone else." And baseball as we knew it was changed forever.

Fans stopped supporting their local teams and became fans of teams in far away places as "nations" and "universes" started popping up. Travel packages, arranged by the teams, became common place and people no longer felt any obligation to root for the boys from town. Part of that can attributed to the fact that we live in a mobile society - a lot of us no longer lived in the communities of our birth - and part of it can be attributed to the fact that people no longer wished to root for teams that lost year after year.

We see that now. There are certain parks where the number of people rooting against the home team far out number those rooting for the home team. I see it when my Red Sox travel to places like Camden Yards in Baltimore. The last few years have not been kind to the Orioles and when the Red Sox are in town, it would be impossible not to notice that the stadium is sold out and that you can hear "Let's Go Red Sox" loud and clear. I even laugh about it. But is it right? Shouldn't the Baltimore players have the support of the "home crowd" when they take the field? Why should they be made to feel like visitors? Is winning all that matters to the fans now?

posted on YouTube by thelonewayfarer

Being older then many of you, I have seen many winning and losing seasons with my Red Sox. (The Yankees didn't win the World Series for how many years in a row? Sorry - you can't even begin to understand the pain of losing seasons.) And yet there is one thing I know - I will never, EVER switch my allegiance to another team even if, God forbid, the Red Sox go back to playing like the teams of my youth. I can't even fathom how a fan could do that! And yet we see it in too many places. The team isn't winning so the fans stay away! Until a winning team - a big name team - shows up to play. Then the fans show up - to cheer for the visitors! Is this good for baseball? That a few teams from large markets, with lots of money and buying power, are the ones to dominate the sport when it comes to winning championship? That these few teams have such a wide fan base that it really does rival a small country? I don't think it is.

Baseball is poorer today because there is less fan loyalty. Because people only want to support winners. Yes, here in the Boston area there is - and always will be - a large base of people who support the Red Sox. I love walking through the area and having people yell out "Go Sox" when they see my hat. It makes me feel a part of a larger community; a fandom community. And I think that it isn't right that fans all across the country don't have that same feeling. Look, none of us want our teams to lose - winning does feel better - but are so many people such fickle fans that winning is a prerequisite for them cheering a team on? We can't go back in time and do away with free agency (nor do I think should we) but I think we need to go back to the days when people cheered for and support the local team. Not just the winning team from a few states over. Trust me - you'll like the feeling you'll get.

Hmm...don't like this news...

2009-11-16T23:39:54Z

According to a report on csnne.com the Red Sox have been rebuffed by Major League Baseball in their request to have the 2012 All-Star Game be played at Fenway Park as part of the 100 Anniversary celebration of America's Most Beloved Ballpark.

http://www.soxualaddiction.com

The report states that MLB will award the ASG to Kansas City, in keeping with its tradition of givng the games to cities that have new or renovated stadiums. Really? And the Yankees had the ASG in 2008 why? Gee...I guess tearing down a stadium is more important then celebrating a team that has done everything they can to preserve a piece of baseball history. I have nothing against the fans of the Kansas City Royals - but they could have waited until 2013. I hope that we find this report to be wrong....

boston.com

Might this man be coming to Boston? The Chicago White Sox have decided to buy out Jermaine Dye's contract instead of having him back next season. Yes, his end of the 2009 season was pretty bad (in the second half he hit only .179 with 7 HRs) but if you look at the records over his career, they are actually quite good. So could the soon to be 36 year-old be coming to Fenway? As a backup to Jason Bay? Or as a replacement if JBay doesn't sign? Say the Red Sox were to sign Dye (he would probably only cost around $7 million or so next year) that would free up some money for say another top tier starter like John Lackey. I'm NOT saying this would be the option that I would prefer (Memo to Theo - RESIGN BAY!!) but it is something interesting to think about.

Could he be coming back? The Red Sox have declined to pick up Alex Gonzalez's option (though there could be some negotiations to bring him back at a lower price.) so as of right now we don't have an everyday shortstop. (Sorry Jed Lowrie fans - I just don't think he is the solution.) So...could Orlando Cabrera be finding his way back to Boston? Yes..his defensive skills were lacking last season but his offensive skills were top-notch and he would most likely be an inexpensive pickup. hmmm....

They're back....

Or they will be soon! The Red Sox have announced their ticket prices for the 2010 baseball season. 2/3 of the tickets will remain at the 2009 level (which were frozen at the 2008 prices) and no single ticket will go up by more then $5. 63% of all the tickets will cost $52 or less and the cheapest ticket will still be $12. And when can you buy them? Well the first opportunity will be on December 12th at the Red Sox annual Christmas at Fenway celebration. I know I'm looking forward to taking some trips into Fenway - with old and new friends! - and maybe if I'm a really, REALLY good girl this year, this guy might help me out...

http://imagecache5.art.com/

A Short Pause....

2009-11-16T10:44:09Z

I know - baseball blog - BUT I am also a HUGE football fan....so if you don't like football, come back later today to read some baseball news. For those of you still here...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING BILL BELICHICK???

For those of you who didn't have the pleasure of seeing the end of the New England Patriots-Colts game, let me spell it out for you...Pats up 34-28 with 2:08 left in the 4th quarter. It was 4th and 2 from our own 28-yard line. Conventional wisdom has the Pats punter coming out and kicking the ball and then sending our defense out to hold them. And hey - Manning had already been intercepted TWICE by our defense. BUT NOOOO....What is the call that Belichick makes? WE ARE GOING TO GO FOR IT!!!!??? You're kidding me...? And we all know what happened...right.....

http://lgo.mit.edu

Inches short, the Colts take over on the 30 yard line and oh look....THEY ARE STILL UNDEFEATED THIS MORNING!!!!!!!!!!! Really Bill? The Boston Globe today is comparing him to Grady Little! Yes...Grady Little...that is how confusing the call was. If this were a playoff game and that call was made, the city of Boston...nay...all of New England would be calling for Belichick's head on a platter...

I kid you not....

It is hard to tell what statement Belichick was trying to make. That he had complete confidence in his offense - they had piled up 468 yards - or that he had no confidence in his defense - they did allow 21 points in the 4th quarter. If you ask retired Patriots great-turned football announcer Rodney Harrison he'll tell you that the message Bill send loud and clear was that he does not believe in his young defense. Not good Bill...not good at all....

And I thought the artificial grass catching fire was as ugly as the game was going to get. (Memo to the Colts' staff - setting off fireworks inside a CLOSED stadium is never, EVER a good idea. But at least all of America now knows that in a pinch you can use Gatorade to put out a fire.)

If the play had worked - and the Pats made the first down - Bill would be the hero today. But we never should have been in this position. You never - EVER - go for it on 4th down on your OWN 28 yard line unless it is a playoff game, there is little time left in the game and you are losing. The stunt last night most likely cost us the conference title and it might have cost us a playoff berth. It is a lose that will haunt us for years to come. In "Bill we Trust" but I have to tell you, it is getting harder to do....

Saturday Roundup - 11/14/09

2009-11-14T13:40:23Z

Time for my weekly roundup of stories you might have missed, follow up stories and a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

1. http://theghostofmoonlightgraham.com

The Boston media is reporting that the Red Sox have made a 4 year, $60 million offer to Jason Bay. Bay's agent said while Bay is weighing all options, he does prefer to stay in Boston. Can we wrap this up boys?

2. mlb.com

While teams are not allowed to negotiate with free agents until November 20th, Theo Epstein is reported to have met with John Lackey's agent during the GMs meeting in Chicago this past week. While the Red Sox do have some interest in Lackey, they are taking a bit of a wait and see approach; they want to see what the market is for him. But think about this rotation - Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Wakefield, Buchholz...and Lackey? Sounds good huh?

3. The Red Sox are in the process of interviewing members of their minor league coaching staffs to find a replacement for Brad Mills who was hired as the manager for the Houston Astros. Those being interviewed include PawSox manager Ron Johnson, Lowell manager Gary DiSarcina, Red Sox minor-league field coordinator Rob Leary and Tom Goodwin, the organization's outfield and baserunning coordinator. The person hired wouldn't necessarily be the new bench coach - current 3rd base coach DeMarlo Hale or first base coach Tim Bogar could become the bench coach and the new hire could take on a different position. Good luck to all - any of these gentlemen would be a fine addition to the staff.

4. http://ladiesdotdotdot.com

As most of my regular readers know - I am DELIGHTED that the Red Sox have signed Tim Wakefield to a two year deal. There have been those who have questioned the wisdom of a two year deal - please, not only is the deal a low dollar risk, what Wakefield brings to the team - his skill, his leadership, his "I'll do anything the team asks of me" attitude - is worth every penny. What bothers me more are the rumblings that Wakefield will not have a good season next year since the Red Sox have both V-Mart and Tek on the team. That without his own "special" catcher that Wake will faulter. Really? I know he only catch for Wake a few times, but I thought V-Mart did an excellent job in that role! Why can't V-Mart be used as a catcher for Wakefield? I question if these "excuses" for not having Wake back - or for his impending failure - are nothing more then that - excuses by those people who do not understand what exactly Wakefield means to the Red Sox and their fans. All reports are that Wakefield's surgery was a success, so why shouldn't we expect him to be as strong as ever on the mound? Patience people - and keep the faith...

5. My Celtics had a tough game last night and they lost to the Atlanta Hawks by a score of 97-86. I fully expected to have an email from my friend commenting on the C's lost. There wasn't one and when I opened up the sports page I saw why....hey Scott how did the Lakers do last night? Yea....my C's lost by 11, but at least it wasn't by 26 points! ;-)

The Awards Season

2009-11-13T01:19:41Z

http://mysportsrumors.com

Congratulations to Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox for winning his first Silver Slugger Award! JBay had a great year! He had a career high 36 homeruns and 119 RBIs and he had a .537 slugging percentage and a .921 OPS. Bay was the only Red Sox player to win a Silver Slugger award this season. This award is voted upon by the Major League managers and coaches and it is an honor that goes to a worthy positional player. So...THEO, if all the managers and coached think that Jason Bay is a great player, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Resign Jason Bay NOW!!

http://nothingbutballs.files.wordpress.com

While in Chicago for the GMs meetings, Theo Epstein did mention that Dice-K would be returning well before spring training to begin his conditioning program. While he is leaving shortly for Japan, the belief is that he will be back in the States in December and it appears that he will be working out the Athletes' Performance Institute in Phoenix. The Red Sox I'm sure will insist that he start his conditioning early so that we don't have a repeat of last season.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com

Well this is interesting news...Billy Wagner, when he was traded to the Red Sox required that they not pickup his optional year. He wanted to be able to go to a team to be their closer and not a setup man. Now it appears that playing setup man in Boston might be okay with him. Wags agent Bean Stringfellow (I kid you not, that is his name..) is now saying that Wags enjoyed his time so much in Boston that he is considering accepting salary arbitration. It would be a risk for Wagner - he could end up earning less then he might in the free market but if he is willing to do that it would be foolish of the Red Sox to pass it up. I'd like to see Wags stay with us. He not only would be a great setup man, but he certainly would give us some options when it comes to closing out a game.

I wonder if Scott saw this?

The Boston Celtics beat the Utah Jazz Wednesday night by a score of 105-86. That imporves their record to 8-1 and they are tied with the Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA. The Celtics' start this season reminds me of their start in the 2007-2008 season and we all remember what happened that season - right Scott? ;-)

Welcome Back Captain!

2009-11-11T23:32:45Z

http://kylepdiddy.files.wordpress.com

The Red Sox announced late this afternoon that Jason Varitek - our Captain - has exercised his $3 million player option and will return for his 14th season in 2010. There are a couple of questions about his return though - how much of a role will he have with the club? (Victor Martinez will be the day-to-day catcher) And - will he remain as the team Captain? I hope that he does. No - he will not be playing a day-to-day role on the field, but we all know that he will play a huge role off the field. And that is enough in my book for him to keep that "C" on his chest. Welcome back Tek! I'm glad you decided to come along for the ride.

http://images.businessweek.com/

This has to be one of the strangest things I have heard so far this off-season. A Japanese website is reporting that the Red Sox are interested in Hideki Matsui if they can not resign Jason Bay or trade for Matt Holliday. Really? He wasn't able to play left field for the Yankees last season because of his knees but somehow he is going to be able to do that for us...at Fenway...very interesting.

http://multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

It is being reported that Nick Green had back surgery this past Monday at the Massachusetts Hospital. There is no further news about his surgery at this time. He and Joey Gathright have both field for free agency as opposed to being outrighted back to the PawSox after both men were removed form the Red Sox 40 man roster. I wish Nick Green well. I also wish this guy well...

62 year old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scoring, is suffering from Chronic Myeloid Leukemia; a rare form of leukemia that strikes about 5,000 Americans each year. His prognosis is encouraging - with treatment he can live a productive life. Yes, he might have been a great rival of my Boston Celtics, but those of us who saw him play can not deny that we saw greatness whenever he was on the court. Good luck to him!

And a time out for an anniversary wish....

Happy Anniversary to Julia's Rants!

http://www.raumfahrt.com

On November 12, 2008 I wrote my first blog and Julia's Rants was born. 475 blogs and 1 year later I am still going strong! I love baseball - my Boston Red Sox! - and I started this blog as a way to share that love with like minded people. I found that; but I found so much more. I found a baseball family. People who not only care about this game, but who really care about each other. I've made new friends. I've had the pleasure of meeting some of my fellow bloggers - Scott of I'm Not a Headline Guy, Elizabeth of The Future Blog of the Red Sox and Emily of I Live for This. And there are commenters who I have become friends with and who I look forward to meeting in the near future. I've made friends who love the Red Sox and the Yankees and the Rockies and every team in between. And friends who span just about every time zone in the world - and I do my best to keep track of what time it is where they are - whether they are 3 hours behind me or 14 hours ahead!

The people I have met here has also confirmed for me that baseball fans are the best fans - the best people - there are. They are knowledgeable, and for the most part, they have a great respect for each other and for each others team. I have had the pleasure of "watching games" with the friends I've made - and it never mattered if we were rooting for the same team or against each other - we always had fun. AND if you told me a year ago that I would ever end up wearing a pink Yankees hat I would have told you were crazy! But the wagers I had with a certain Yankee blogger made the season just that much more enjoyable. (Are you ready for 2010 my friend?)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com

So thank you to all of you for stopping by, for reading, for commenting, for taking the time to become my friend. I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I do. Everyone is always welcomed here - it doesn't matter what team you love - and make sure you say hello when you stop by. I want this to be the place where everyone knows your name....

posted on YouTube by BertoneBeatle

Stop by often - "come grow old with me - the best is yet to be!" Thank you! GO RED SOX!!

~~ Julia

True American Heroes

2009-11-10T21:27:30Z

November 11th. We call it Veterans' Day in the United States. In other parts of the world it is called Armistice Day in honor of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when hostilities ended after World War I. By whatever name it is called, it is a day set aside to honor those who serve in the military.

http://oly.imageg.net/

Major League Baseball understands the importance of supporting our troops and their efforts were front and center on the first night of the World Series when MLB's Welcome Back Veterans program was highlighted. Throughout the season, teams and their season ticket holders donate thousands of tickets so our "True American Heroes" have an opportunity to take in a game with their families. A little bit of normalcy - a little slice of Americana - for families whose lives are anything but normal.

http://gocomics.typepad.com

On Memorial Day we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice - those who laid down their lives for our freedom. But those men and women who serve, and who by the grace of God come home safely, have also sacrificed for us. They and their families spend years - be it 1, 2, 5 or 20+ years - in a state of upheaval. Moms and Dads don't see their sons and daughters. Children don't get to spend time with their parents. Parents who leave to serve miss so much - birthdays and births. School plays and football games. The chance to kiss a skinned knee and make it all better. To see a child leave for the high school prom. Memories that they will never get back; memories that we civilians take for granted.

http://www.oocomments.com

Yes, they volunteered for this job. No one made them do it. And their reasons for serving are as varied as their faces. So many join seeking a better life. To see the world! Because of a family tradition of military service. They felt the need to do "something" after the attacks of 9/11. To make the world a better place. Whatever their reason for putting on a uniform, they wear that uniform with pride. And they make us Americans so very, very proud.

http://www.karklean.com

No matter where they serve, they are always helping; they are always in danger; they are always doing their best to represent the ideals of what it means to be an American. And while it seems wrong to have just "a day" to honor all those who have served - shouldn't we honor them every day? - that is exactly what we do on Veterans' Day. We honor and give an overdue thanks to everyone who has ever worn a uniform. Be it to those who served in wars past - like my dad during the Korean War. Or to those who serve now - like Mike and John. And everyone in between. You all represent the best of America. Our country might not be perfect - but there is no place that I would rather be...

posted on Youtube by garin4x4

It is Veterans' Day. Fly the flag. Enjoy your freedom. Thank a Vet. And know just how blessed you are to be living in the America. Our men and women in uniform are our heroes - those who come home and those who don't...

posted on YouTube by BOBTHESHLOB

From the bottom of my heart I thank each and everyone of you. God Bless you and your families - I hope you are home with them - with us - very soon! And God Bless America.

posted on YouTube by beevmeister

2010 is starting to shape up

2009-11-10T01:49:03Z

Theo Epstein and all are not wasting any time. Today the Red Sox announced that they picked up the $7.1 million club option for 2010 for...

http://cdn0.sbnation.com

Victor Martinez. The 30 year old catcher (who plays first base as well) has one of the big bats that the Red Sox so desperately need in their lineup. In the 56 games he played with the Red Sox last season, he hit .336 with 8 home runs and 41 RBIs. V-Mart finished the season with a .303 average, 23 homers and 108 RBIs in 155 games between the Cleveland Indians and the Red Sox. Picking up his option also clarifies the direction the team will be taking next season when it comes to catching.

http://betweenthepoles.files.com

I can not tell you how delighted I am with this news! The Red Sox, in a break with tradition from the last few years, have signed Tim Wakefield to a 2 year, $10 million deal! This deal would seem to indicate that the back surgery that Wake had this off-season was a success. Before his back took him out of the game, Wake was on track for a record season; possibly his first 20 win season. He ended the season with an 11-5 record and a 4.58 ERA. I can't wait to see Wake get that 20 win season. (UPDATE: The local media is reporting today that Wakefield will retire at the end of the 2011 season.)

And there were 2 players who options the Red Sox decided not to exercise...

boston.com

Alex Gonzalez. But declining his $6 million option doesn't mean that A-Gonz won't be back. The rumors are that the Red Sox and A-Gonz will have some discussions to work out a contract at a lower cost after he files for free agency. The Red Sox need to do something....as of this moment we once again do not have a day-to-day shortstop. (Mike - did you mention something us needing a shortstop?) The reports say that the Red Sox did try to sign J.J. Hardy from the Brewers before they declined A-Gonz's option. I liked the spark that Gonzalez brought to the team when we resigned him mid-season. He brought consistency to the position and we could depend upon him to get hits when needed. If we are unable to work out a deal with him - PLEASE THEO!! Make finding a shortstop a top priority.

http://www.soxandpinstripes.com

Okay, I knew this one was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept it. The Red Sox have declined to pick up Jason Varitek's $5 million club option. Tek has until Saturday to decided if he will exercise his $3 million player option. sigh....Our Captain...all we can do now is wait. Jason - please make the right decision. (UPDATE: The local media is reporting this morning that Tek will exercise his players option and will come back for one more year as the backup catcher to V-Mart.)

A very special birthday....

Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street!

posted on YouTube by sawing14s

Even Sesame Street loves baseball!

"Tear Down That Wall"

2009-11-09T01:16:23Z

posted on YouTube by forquignon

20 years ago today on November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall came down. The physical barrier that separated East from West. Democracy from Communism. Freedom from Oppression.

On August 13, 1961 the final passage between East Berlin and West Berlin was closed. What had begun in the 1950s as a way for the U.S.S.R. (now Russia) to control the movement of people from the east to the west was now permanent. Families were split by the wall. People no longer has access to their jobs and East Berliners no longer had the right to travel to the west and into freedom.

http://growabrain.typepad.com

Over the years 5,000 people made successful "escapes" over the wall. And somewhere between 100-200 were killed trying to cross into freedom. When Berlin was divided between the East and the West after WWII, it was done so in an attempt to prevent Berlin, and Germany, from rising to power again. I'm not sure anyone expected The Wall to be the outcome. Many in West Berlin blamed the United States for not doing more to stop the Wall from being erected. But it was built at the time of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union and President Kennedy felt there wasn't much the US could do (without the outcome being an embarrassment to the West), even though the erection of the wall was a violation of the postwar Potsdam Agreements, which gave the United Kingdom, France and the United States a say over the administration of all of Berlin.

http://library.msstate.edu/

For years the people of East Berlin suffered; never obtaining the success of their fellow Germans in West Berlin. As relations between the East and West began to thaw, President Regan made his famous speech on June 12, 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate in honor of the 750 Anniversary of Berlin where he challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down that wall!" and just over 2 years later the Wall came down. To learn more about the history of the Wall you can read here.

I know that for many of you reading this The Wall is just something you know from history class. I grew up hearing about and reading the stories of people being shot and left to die in the no-mans-land between East and West and I was an adult, out of college, when the Wall came down. The world has changed a lot in my lifetime. I know - this has nothing to do with baseball - but an event this important should not pass without being noted. Long may Freedom ring.

posted on YouTube by LHHig

A Sunday State of Mind

2009-11-08T19:56:50Z

What's the best part of the baseball off-season? Sunday afternoon football games! I know, many of you are not football fans - but I LOVE my Patriots! Just ask anyone who knows me or who has the pleasure of "watching" a game with me. Yes, I am just as bad when watching a game online as I am in person. Shocking I know. So as I watch my Pats and check out my picks for this week, I did happen to notice some baseball news...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com

Even though he has filed for free agency, Rocco Baldelli has indicated that he would like to be back in Boston next season. He has enjoyed his time here and doesn't feel that the acquisition of Jeremy Hermida will affect him too much for Baldelli bats right and the Red Sox need a right-handed hitter and a 5th outfielder. I'm not so sure about that - I'll actually be surprised if Baldelli is back with the team.

http://www.nleastchatter.com

The rumor mill is picking up over whether the Red Sox will look to make a trade for Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres. Starting tomorrow the baseball GMs gather in Chicago for their annual meetings and one would expect that the new Padres GM Jed Hoyer might have a drink or two with his old friend and boss Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. There are reports that Gonzalez would not be opposed to coming to Boston. He is a hitter who goes the other way and that would be a huge plus if he came to Fenway; and his numbers could make him a true #3 or #4 in the lineup. Also a "source" indicated that Gonzalez is frustrated with the Padres and would like to play for a winning team. And I hate to "read" into anything - but when the Padres sent out their season tickets material recently, Gonzalez was not featured prominently on the brochures. Do you think the Padres know he won't be back? Stay tuned for news out of the Windy City.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com

Happy 57th birthday to Jerry Remy! Our favorite Red Sox announcer celebrates his birthday today, November 8th. Jerry missed much of the last season due to treatment for his lung cancer and then he was treated for depression brought about by his cancer treatments. I hope he will be healthy and will be able to spend the whole season in the broadcast booth where he belongs!

For those of you haven't marked it on your calendar yet, some dates you might be interested it...

February 18, 2010 - pitchers and catcher report to Spring Training

February 23, 2010 - positional players report to Spring Training

April 5, 2010 - The Red Sox open their season at home against the New York Yankees. (Scott, make sure you have your Pink Red Sox hat handy - you'll be needing it!)

GO RED SOX!!

And a little post note - my Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins today - 27-17! The Pats record is now 6-2. I like it!

Saturday Roundup 11/7/09

2009-11-07T18:25:24Z

Time for my weekly roundup of stories you might have missed, follow up stories and a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

1. http://www.chrisoleary.com

Congratulations are in order for Red Sox pitching ace Josh Beckett. This past Tuesday night he was awarded the 2009 Champion Award by Children's Hospital in Boston. And he received the award not just for the checks he writes or for the bowling tournament that he holds each year, he received this award to honor him for his time that he spends with the kids who are in the hospital at Children's. Beckett has taken the time to get to know the kids and he has formed relationships with some of the sickest children who have to spend a lot of time in the hospital. Beckett has matured in his time in Boston and we as a community have benefited greatly from having him here. Congrats Joshua Patrick - we fans are proud of you.

2. http://www.insidesocal.com/

In the least surprising news of the young Hot Stove Season, Manny Ramirez has indicated that he will exercise his option and will play for the Dodgers in 2010 - after all, what other team was going to pay him $20 million for next season? Manny, after he returned from his 50 game suspension for drug use, was not the player that he was in 2008 when the Dodgers acquired him from the Red Sox. He became a wild swinger who was ineffective at the plate. And at the age of 37, even Manny says that playing everyday is taking a toll on his body. Sadly, I think the Dodger fans are going to be learning what we mean by "Manny being Manny" here in Boston. Good luck.

3. boston.com

File this under - will these guys ever learn? S.F. Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum was stopped for speeding in his home state of Washington. The arresting officer smell an "odd odor" coming from the car and Lincecum was found to have 3.3 grams of marijuana and a pot pipe in his car. Really Tim? How do you explain this to your fans? To the kids who look up to you. Driving while under the influence? Look - I know people aren't prefect and that we all make mistakes - but driving around while smoking pot in your car? Brilliant it is not. The Giants Organization said they are aware of the situation, but they did not have a comment at this time.

4. Boston is a great sports town. There is NO question of that. And at times, some of our local personalities have a lot to say:

"Some teams meet on the mound to make sure everyone is on the same page. The Yankees meet regularly enough to make sure everyone is on the same syllable of the same word of the same sentence of the same paragraph on the same page. And once everyone is, then they discuss the font style."

NESN.com Jim Caple on the Yankees excessive mound meetings during game 4 of the WS.

"Oh, let's all cheer up because A-Rod's come full circle now. He's got his ring, he's complete, blah, blah, blah, whatever. Listen, they're used to it, and they have to accept the fact that no one outside New York is even remotely happy today. OK, the Yankees won. Move on. When does spring training start? When do we sign free agents?"

Curt Schilling on WEEI talking about A-Rod's 6 year quest to bring the WS to NY.

5. http://www.boston.com/

Yay - there is Patriots' football this weekend! The Pats had a bye week last weekend, and they resume play this weekend against the Miami Dolphins. And in case you missed it - Dolphin linebacker Joey Porter hates the Patriots. Go ahead, ask him. He'll be more then happy to tell you that. The player who was voted the second dirtiest player in the NFL by the players in an SI Poll, admits he has little love for anyone (I suppose except for himself) and you know what? That's okay. I've seen players trash-talk the Patriots before and I look forward to seeing the Patriots silence Porter on Sunday where it matters - on the field.

Go Patriots! Squish the Fish!!

6. While all the details of the horrific attack at the Fort Hood Army Base might never be known, on thing we do know is the name of the hero who challenged the shooter and stopped his rampage.

www.time.com

Sgt. Kimberly Munley is a civilian Department of Defense police officer at the base and is a member of the Special Reaction Team. In the wake of the attacks at Virginia Tech, the officers on this team learned that if you act aggressively to take out a shooter, you will have fewer fatalities - and act aggressively is just what Sgt. Munley did. When she encountered the shooter, she approached him, engaged him and even though she was shoot 3 times at close range, she was able to bring him down. Munley regrets not being able to intervene sooner - she wishes she could have saved more lives. Sgt Munley - you have nothing to regret about your actions - you are a hero. Thank you.

First Blood

2009-11-06T20:07:26Z

Someone's got to draw first
Draw first
Someone's got to draw first blood
Someone's got to draw first blood
Oooh I got to draw first blood
Oooh I got to draw first blood

- All Revved Up With No Place to Go; Meatloaf

Less then 24 hours after the World Series ended, the Red Sox made their first move of the Hot Stove season.

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com

The Red Sox have announced that they have acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins in exchange for left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. Hermida is an outfielder who bats left and throws right and he was a first round draft pick (11th overall) in 2002.

The 25 year old has only had modest success with the Marlins. Over his career he has hit .265 with 57 HRs and 210 RBIs. The Red Sox hope that a change of scenery is what is needed for him to live up to his potential. (And hey - you remember how our last big trade with the Marlins went, right?) The question remains as to how the Red Sox will use him. He has played both right and left field and potentially he could be that "guy off the bench" much like Mark Kotsay was. J.D. Drew, our right fielder, is under contract for the next two years. And out in left field? Well...guess who filed for free agency?

Jason Bay, Rocco Baldelli and Billy Wagner

It comes as no surprise that these three gentlemen have field for free agency but it does beg the question as to whether any of these three will be back with the team next season. Billy Wagner, as part of the deal to come to the Red Sox, made the Red Sox agree not to pickup his optional year. He wants to go to a team to be their closer. I would love to see Wags stay with us, but I don't expect that to happen. Rocco Baldelli is another person whom I am not sure will be back again. And I hate to say it - but I'm not really sure I care one way or the other. The Red Sox had pretty high expectations for Baldelli when we signed him, but his lingering medical condition and injuries caused him to miss a lot of the season. He was not able to play up to our expectations and I'm not sure he will be able to. The last free agent on our list is one that I hope we can sign quickly.

Jason Bay, not matter what all the "stats" say, was an important part of our team and he is someone that I think we need to sign quickly. Yes, he was streaky when it came to getting hits - but he seemed to come through time and again for us. And his arm? I don't care what the experts say - opponents came to fear him. (And we can't let him go to the Yankees - right Scott?)

Theo, I know it's early, and you have been busy, but the time has come - RE-SIGN BAY and do it NOW!!!

http://adozeneggs.com

Oh,that? Just a little "snack" for you Mr.Theo...you know why...

First Day of the Long Winter

2009-11-06T02:04:11Z

I would be remiss if I didn't send out congratulations to my good friend Scott - yes, his Yankees won the World Series and I am sure he is still on cloud 9. If you're a regular reader here you know that Scott and I have had friendly wagers going on all season whenever our two teams played. We were tied for wins when the regular season ended and as is always the case for two teams who play in the American League - only one could advance farther then the other. And this year, Scott's team went farther then mine. Scott - I've enjoyed our battles this season and did you notice - the MLB scheduler's smiled on us - the Red Sox and the Yankees open and close the 2010 season against each other, so yes Scott - It is most definitely GAME ON! However shall we pass the time until then? There's always hockey and football and how about those 6-0 Celtics? ;-) But, far be it from me not to be a gracious "loser" for a last time this season - so for you my friend. Enjoy a little something from a "favorite distraction"....

posted on YouTube by CrisVS

GO RED SOX!! ;-)

With the World Series ending - finally - baseball moves into its third season - the Hot Stove Season!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com

While maybe not as exciting as the regular season (or post season), the Hot Stove Season is always full of drama and suspense. Who will be traded? Who will be acquired? What will my team look like come Spring Training? Each team has their own plan for this off-season; their own priority list. But before that even begins, there are a number of things that I saw in the post season that I think Major League Baseball needs to address before any of the teams can move forward.

1. http://carolynbaker.net

Either we round up all the Major League Umps and send them off a cliff like a bunch of lemmings or else MLB needs to pay for a lot of eye exams. The number of blown calls this post-season alone should be an embarrassment to Bub Selig and the powers to be. When all is working right, we don't even notice that the umps are at the game. And that is the way it should be. And this post season? Calling runners safe when they are out by 4 feet? Calling balls foul when they are clearly fair? And seriously - what rule says that the strike zone is suppose to be in constant flux during the game? High school kids calling little league games would have done a better job. It is not acceptable - to fans and players a like - to have so many errors made by umps. Do I think there should be instant replay for all calls? No. But maybe there is room for some sort of limited expanded instant replay so certain calls. I don't have the answers but Buddy and his croonies better find one and find it soon.

2. http://3.bp.blogspot.com

Can we please do something about the number of meetings that take place on the pitcher's mound? Seriously. The Yankee fans were booing when Pedro felt the need to have a little chat after the first pitch in game 6, but what about the 6 & 7 trips to the mound PER INNING that Posada and Molina were making during the games in Philly? I know - some of it is just to "psych out" the batter, but is it really necessary to make that many trips? It interrupts the flow of the game. The manager is allowed 2 trips and the pitcher has to be pulled. And why is that? Because in the 1970s Billy Martin, then manager of the New York Yankees, would make so many trips out to the mound that the league felt it had to step in and change the rules. I think it might be time for them to look at the rule again.

3. Please, please PLEASE!!! Can something be done about the baseball announcers on FOX & ESPN and to a lesser extent TBS. When I watch Red Sox games on NESN, I expect Jerry Remy and Donny-O to have a certain bias towards the Red Sox. But a National Broadcast team? We should be able to expect an impartial broadcast team who actually talks about the two teams who are playing! When my Red Sox are playing the TB Rays - I really do not want to hear about the Yankees! Over and over and over again...

I can not take it anymore! Something has got to be done about them. And the sooner the better.

I had some other things I was going to write about - but as I was writing my blog today, the news broke about the attack at Fort Hood in Texas..

and that put a lot of things into perspective. As of this time - 13 people have been killed (including the suspected gun man), 31 people have been wounded and the relative safety that those who live and work at the largest US Army base in the world enjoyed has been shattered. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and to all our men and women in the military. It shakes our feelings of safety when we see something like this happen to those who are charged with protecting us. God Bless you all and thank you.

http://freepages.military.com